Tropical Aquarium in Paris: a small journey into the underwater world
If you want to escape the city noise for a while, the Tropical Aquarium in Paris is a great option. Here you can see tropical aquatic ecosystems, fish, reptiles, and live "underwater landscapes" right in the Palais de la Porte Dorée building.
What to expect
The aquarium is located in the palace at 293 avenue Daumesnil, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. The exhibition covers various environments — from mountain streams and coral reefs to the Great African Lakes, swamps of Asia and America.
The collection includes 85 tanks, approximately 4,000 animals, and about 350 species. There are both freshwater and marine aquariums, as well as terrariums designed to resemble the natural habitats of the inhabitants.
This is not the case where you just walk past identical glass containers. The exhibition is built as a series of living scenes: somewhere bright tropical fish catch your attention, while elsewhere it’s more interesting to observe the unusual inhabitants of freshwater bodies and terrariums.
Who should go
The Tropical Aquarium is well-suited for a calm walk with children, a date, or a break between other routes in Paris. The space does not require any special knowledge from you: just watching, reading short explanations, and noticing how different tropical waters can be is enough.
It’s especially nice that in one small tour you can transition from mountain streams to sea reefs, and then observe the inhabitants of swampy regions. If you expect a huge oceanarium for a whole day, the scale may seem modest, but for a compact city trip, this is rather an advantage.
Practical information before your visit
From Tuesday to Friday, the aquarium is open from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It is closed on Monday, and the last entry is possible one hour before closing.
The Tropical Aquarium is conveniently accessible from the Porte Dorée stop: there is nearby metro line 8 and tram T3a. Online booking is highly recommended, so on popular days, it’s better to take care of your ticket in advance.
If you are in the Bois de Vincennes area or plan to visit the Palais de la Porte Dorée, the Tropical Aquarium can easily be added to your route. It’s a good place for those who love animals, photography, and leisurely museums without excessive text.
Would you go to see tropical fish and reptiles in the heart of Paris?
